15. XV.
“Melchior,” said Pelayo, as he stood before him.
The maiden trembled even while she slept, for the voice
thrilled through her, but she opened not her eyes nor
gave any sign of consciousness.
“My prince!” said the old man, sadly, but respectfully.
He had felt the sudden shiver of his daughter's
frame, and well did he conceive the spell of power which
had occasioned it.
“At length, Melchior,” said Pelayo, “the war is declared.
We no longer combat our enemy by stealth
and in disguises. The arms are in our hands, the war-cry
of liberty is raised, and nothing now is left us but
to do our duty as becomes brave men fighting for their
rights. We have nothing to hope from the justice or
the indulgence of our foe—we must only look now to
our good weapons and to the God of battles.”
“It is a prayer granted by Jehovah—we have both
prayed for this hour, Prince Pelayo,” said Melchior.
“Yet is the peril great, Melchior, and the odds are
heavy against our cause. It is not a season when mere
ordinary valour will avail us. We must do more than
we might think to do were the trial not so pressing. We
must address our souls to it, and put them into our swords.
Nor into our swords only, Melchior; our men must feel
with us, and strike after our example, or we can gain
little by combat with the practised soldiers of Edacer.
It was touching this last necessity that I came to thee,
Melchior.”
“Speak thy desires, Prince Pelayo—as I have promised
thee will I perform. I have sworn myself thy
subject, as I believe thee to be one chosen of Jehovah
for the saving of thy country, of thy people, and of
mine. I am ready to do thy will.”
“It is thy daughter who sleeps within thy arms, Melchior,”
said Pelayo, glancing from the topic between
them. The maiden shivered once more when she heard
this inquiry. She could not sleep with Pelayo speaking
beside her. With a sort of instinct, himself trembling
with suppressed emotion, Melchior half drew her form
up to his bosom ere he replied—
“It is, my lord. It was she who brought me tidings
that prompted me to bring up the band which arrested
the progress of Edacer to the cave—”
“And to which ready service we owe our safety,
Melchior. I had not remembered to give thee thanks
for thy good conduct and thoughtful valour. It is another
claim which thou hast upon Spain when she is
rescued from her tyrant.”
“Speak no more of this matter, Prince Pelayo,” replied
the old man; “but say to me as thou didst purpose—what
next shall Melchior do—what is the task
thou wouldst assign to the Hebrew? Speak freely—he
shall do it.”
“I would not do thy people wrong, Melchior, but
thou knowest that for a long season their hands have
been unweaponed—the sway of the Gothic princes has
denied them arms.”
“It was because Israel was still feared, though beaten
as a dog, and a captive held to base services,” replied
the old man, somewhat proudly.
“Whatever was the motive of the denial, Melchior,
its effects are still the same,” replied Pelayo, calmly.
“Thy people ceased to be warlike—they ceased to desire
arms, and lost the noble exercises which make a warrior
confident in his hand and weapon. It is this lack of
confidence which I fear to-morrow. Hast thou no fears
of this sort, Melchior?”
“Alas! my prince, what shall Melchior say to thee?
Shall he speak, now that the beard of seventy winters
is white upon his breast, of his own prowess and achievement?
Surely, my prince, thou knowest that, even as
the sower sows, so shall he reap—that the valour of the
soldier is but a thriving plant from the good seed which
the chief has first put to grow; and as the leader does,
so will the soldiers, unless Jehovah wills it otherwise;
and this I look not to see to-morrow. I will lead one
half of the Hebrew warriors, and Abimelech will take
direction of the other, if it pleases thee, my prince, that
we shall do so; and we, in turn, shall be under the control
and guidance of thyself in chief, and such other brave
men as thou shalt put over us. The Jews will follow
me, I trust, into the battle; and I will not shrink, my
prince, to preserve a life that Jehovah has already lengthened
beyond the ordinary limit, as if he designed it for
this very service. It will not be unfitting that I yield it
up as a sacrifice for my people, at a season when the
promise is so fair that they will no longer need it.”
Thyrza still seemed to sleep; but when she heard
these words, she turned her face to the bosom of her
father, where it was now hidden. It was to conceal the
big tears which gathered thickly in her eyes.
“Thy purpose pleases me, Melchior; it had been my
thought before to have divided the Hebrews under thyself
and Abimelech, though I would not have divided
them equally. I would have assigned the greater force
to thee, as I rely more upon thy words, and the general
regard which thy people bear thee, to make their valour
even and unshaken. One third of thy people will I give
to Abimelech, who shall also have with him, to lead,
though not to control, two Spanish nobles of tried
valour, the Lords Eudon and Aylor—to thee would I
give sole charge of the force remaining, but that thou
mightst fall in the conflict, and leave them disheartened,
lacking any other leader. Two other Spanish nobles
will I appoint to lead with thee, and from among thy people
thou shalt choose separate and strong bands to follow
them. Does this disposition please thee, Melchior?”
The old man avowed himself satisfied, and Pelayo
proceeded.
“Ere the night be over, I would have thee select from
thy people some fifty bowmen—such as are slight of
make and of least certain courage. These will I reserve
and dispose in clefts and places along the mountain,
free from the press of battle, yet ready to give aid
to their brethren below by a close watch and a timely
employment of their bows upon the more pressing of
the foe. They must be counselled to select their enemies—to
waste no shafts upon the followers, but only
to shoot the plumed and bold chieftains. They will be
the more collected to note their men, and perform this
duty truly, as they shall be themselves free from all pressing
and immediate danger.”
“This was already thought on, my prince,” said Melchior;
“the men are chosen for this duty.”
“Thy promptness gives me better assurance of the
end, Melchior, and I grow more confident as we devise
together,” replied Pelayo; “there is but one point more.
There are three passes to the mountain—so I learn
from Abimelech. By these three only can we descend
into the plain for combat. The centre shall be mine—
thou shalt give me from thy force some fifty warriors—
a less number will I take from Abimelech—these, with
our Spanish nobles, will I myself lead down to battle,
and I trust that they will not miss thy command, Melchior,
in the example I shall put before them.”
“They will not—I fear not that, my prince,” said
Melchior.
“With thy force, Melchior, as the largest, thou wilt
descend the main passage to the left—thy chosen bowmen
being stationed along the space of rock lying between
the left and centre. To Abimelech, the right
pass I have assigned already. Upon our time of movement
will I confer with thee ere the dawn opens upon
us. There is no more to-night—yet, Melchior, I would
that thy daughter were not here.”
The old man pressed his finger to his lips, and looked
down into the face of the seeming sleeper. Pelayo understood
him, and spoke none of the apprehensions
which were in his bosom. The conference was now
brief between them, and given almost entirely to matters
connected with the strife which was at hand. These
will all have full development as we proceed. At
length Pelayo prepared to depart.
“I must leave thee now, Melchior—I hear a signal
that reminds me of a solemn duty which the Christian
warrior must perform before he goes to battle, in which
thy faith forbids thee to share. We administer to each
other the holy sacrament, and make confession of our
mutual and unexpiated sins. In thy way, and after the
fashion of thy church, thou too wilt make thy confession
before God, and prepare thyself, I doubt not, Melchior,
for the approach of death to-morrow.”
“Alas! my prince, wherefore would I confess what
I may not conceal? Jehovah knows my heart, and
keeps watch over its deepest recesses. For what says
the Psalmist—`Whither shall I go from thy spirit—
whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up
into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in the
earth, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of
the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand
shall hold me.' I have no thought hidden from his justice—I
have no thoughts which I would not he should
examine; for I yield all things into his hands, and but
strive, as, in my poor understanding, his judgment would
seem to approve.”
Pelayo, taught in other schools, could have found
points of objection in the words of the Hebrew; but
he had too much good sense for such controversy, and
too many duties to perform requiring his thought and
presence elsewhere. He left Melchior, therefore, to
his sole communion with his God, and with the sweet
maiden, who, whatever might have been her faith, was
pure enough for any communion.
